One of the things I want to help the church change is who we put into positions. I adamantly believe we need to be exercising the giftings God has given to us and not trying to fulfill a role we weren’t designed for.
Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
1 Chronicles 15:22
Too often I see well meaning people trying to be what they are not. This can be seen in all aspects of ministry and is especially prevalent in marketing and design. It’s cool to design, it’s fun…but if you aren’t truly skilled I really think you should leave it to someone who is. Yep, you can buy photoshop, find a few free fonts and put together a direct mail piece…but is that enough? I can buy a wrench but trust me you don’t want me to fix your car.
Whenever someone tries to fill a role that they weren’t design for we see several problems:
- Because you are not fully equipped you face increasing frustration. You are going to run into hurdle after hurdle and bring unnecessary hurt on yourself.
- You are blocking someone else from living as God designed them. Get out of the way and support the person God appointed.
- Though you can check off the task as completed, it’s not effective in practice. Doesn’t the task deserve more than that?
- Your true design is not fully being realized. Take joy in the appointment God has given you.
If you’re filling a role that just isn’t yours, it’s time to course correct.
Embrace the design God created in you,
grow in it,
find joy in it.
Encourage others in their gifting.
If you have an interest in an area you aren’t gifted in find ways to bring your giftings to that process. You have been given exactly what you need to realize God’s full potential in you, tap into that
Be who God design you to be.
Words of wisdom, Michael. If I’ve made one mistake repeatedly in my life, it’s allowing myself to be placed into roles I wasn’t called to - both inside and outside of church. Each time, I rationalized my decision to take on the job by noting that it was an important task (it was), that SOMEBODY needed to do it (somebody did), I was capable of doing it (at least at a rudimentary level), I was secretly kind of honored to be asked (Hey! Look at me!), and I was willing to do it (or, usually just afraid to say NO), so, I guessed I was the person for the job (nope, wrong).
While I managed to muddle through, it never felt right, and always resulted in frustration and friction with other priorities. No sense of ministry or anointing, just a slog through to completion.
With my wife’s help, I’m leaning to say no (it’s early yet, but initial indications are that The World may survive and continue spinning even without my help!), and I’m working at remaining focused on those things I do know God has called me to.
The Blessed Bovine is right - it’s better this way.
i think about this a lot. i truly feel that God has called me to ministry, and even more specifically, THIS ministry. i also have been fortunate to take classes her-and-there, and to learn from fellow designers. a lot of times, though, i feel inadequate because i don’t have a degree. i try to balance those feelings with the feelings of being called, but it’s difficult.
@danielle I know plenty of designers with degrees who have missed their calling as accountants, tech support, etc.
Many of these so-called “design programs” are no more than classes on how to use Photoshop. They aren’t true art schools, they’re not teaching design and how to communicate with visuals.
A degree isn’t the proving grounds of whether or not you were designed to be a pastor, media director, graphic designer….you name it. The proof is the end result. Sure, sometimes the world will force a degree and is a necessary step in the process. But a degree doesn’t set the calling and giftings, God’s already taken care of that.
@flotsam Thanks…you’re right. I remember times of arguing with God that he wasn’t opening the doors for me to be on staff at 1 church…today I don’t know what I would do if I had to only work with 1 church. He always knows better…He sees so much bigger and more complete. I’ve learned not to force it, wait on God’s timing and let His ways prevail.